Synthesis of Silaphenalenes by Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Annulation between 1‐Naphthylsilanes and Internal Alkynes through CH Bond Cleavage

Ruthenium‐catalyzed annulation of 1‐naphthylsilanes with internal alkynes afforded silaphenalenes through cleavage of the C?H bond at the 8‐position of the naphthalene. [RuH₂(CO){P(p‐FC₆H₄)₃}₃] efficiently catalyzed the reaction. The use of 1‐naphthyldiphenylsilane as a substrate resulted in a better yield of the annulation product compared to the use of silanes with alkyl groups on the silicon atom. Internal alkynes with both aryl and alkyl groups were tolerated in this reaction.     

Development of a certified reference material (NMIJ CRM 7505-a) for the determination of trace elements in tea leaves

A certified reference material (CRM) for trace elements in tea leaves has been developed in National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ). The CRM was provided as a dry powder (<90 μm) after frozen pulverization of washed and dried fresh tea leaves from a tea plant farm in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Characterization of the property value for each element was carried out exclusively by NMIJ with at least two independent analytical methods, including inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), high-resolution (HR-) ICP-MS, isotope-dilution (ID-) ICP-MS, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) and flame atomic-absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Property values were provided for 19 elements (Ca, K, Mg, P, Al, B, Ba, Cd, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Zn and Co) and informative values for 18 elements (Ti, V, Cr, Y, and all of the lanthanides, except for Pm whose isotopes are exclusively radioactive). The concentration ranges of property values and informative values were from 1.59% (mass) of K to 0.0139 mg kg(-1) of Cd and from 0.6 mg kg(-1) of Ti to 0.0014 mg kg(-1) of Lu, respectively. Combined relatively standard uncertainties of the property values were estimated by considering the uncertainties of the homogeneity, analytical methods, characterization, calibration standard, and dry-mass correction factor. The range of the relative combined standard uncertainties was from 1.5% of Mg and K to 4.1% of Cd.     

Identification of possible technical problems in determination of the major inorganic constituents of brown-rice flour by evaluating proficiency test results

To support skill upgrading in analysis of inorganic constituents of environmental and food samples, the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) and the National Food Research Institute (NFRI) have organized a proficiency test (PT) of determination of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, and Cd in brown-rice flour based on the international standard (ISO/IEC 17043:2010). One hundred and thirty-three sets of reports were assessed by use of the E _n -number and z-score approaches in accordance with ISO/IEC 17043 and the international harmonized protocol for PT. The PT results and analytical procedures, reported in detail, were reviewed, and possible technical reasons for questionable or unsatisfactory results are discussed.

Synthesis of hydrophobic phase-tagged prolyl peptides featuring rapid reaction/separation

Hydrophobically tagged prolyl peptides were synthesized using an electrochemically modified prolyl moiety. The hydrophobic tag served a useful handle for the repetitive reaction/separation steps during solution-phase peptide synthesis. Furthermore, the tag was also effective as an anchor on solid phases for the evaluation of activity of immobilized peptides.     

Conformally Flat Semi-Riemannian Manifolds with Nilpotent Ricci Operators and Affine Differential Geometry

We investigate the conformally flat semi-Riemannian manifolds withnilpotent Ricci operators. We construct a lot of complete orhomogeneous, conformally flat semi-Riemannian manifolds with nilpotentRicci operators. In this construction, we show interesting relationsbetween the semi-Riemannian geometry and the affine differentialgeometry of centro-affine hypersurfaces.     

Spin-probe ESR study on the entrapment of organic solutes by the nanochannel of MCM-41 in benzene

An ESR study has been made on the adsorption of three types of aminoxyl radicals with different substituent groups in the nanochannel of MCM-41 in benzene. In the suspensions of MCM-41, all the aminoxyl radicals, usually called as spin probes, show the ESR spectra composed of two signals: the main broader one from the spin probes trapped in the nanochannel, and a sharp minor signal from those in the bulk. The spin probes adsorbed in the nanochannel retain considerable mobility especially at higher temperatures over 300 K. When fumed silica, having a surface structure similar to that of MCM-41, is employed, on the other hand, the relatively hydrophobic spin probe mainly remains in the bulk, but the hydrophilic one is mostly adsorbed and immobilized rigidly. From these results, the adsorption by the MCM-41 nanochannel in benzene is characterized by medium selectivity and considerable motional allowance to the adsorbate molecule. The mobility of the spin probe in the MCM-41 nanochannel increases and the adsorption efficiency decreases by either of the following changes made to the system: (a) increasing the channel diameter, (b) increasing the hydrophobicity of the spin probe, (c) adding a small amount of 2-propanol in the solution, (d) methylation of the surface OH groups of the nanochannel, and (e) elevating the system temperature. A model of this special type of adsorption has been proposed on the basis of the thermodynamic parameters and the ESR spectra for the modified systems including those with different solvents.